Protective spray fire nozzle



OC- 9, `l951 J. N. MARTIN PROTECTIVE SPRAY FIRE NozzLE Filed April 24, 194'? vm r \m NEWNN nuentor: JOHN N. MARTI N (Ittotnegs.

Patented Oct. 9, 1951 S TAT ES ENT GFF I C E ritorno'rlvrrl sPRAnEIRE NozzLE a John N.. Martin, Wendover, Utah; Application Amaru, 1947seria1fNo. 743,520

This invention' relates toa protective spray fire nozzle, and more particularly a` nozzle for connection to a firey hose whereby a rernani hold'- ingl a nozzle and directingy its stream is protected byf a curtain of atomizedwater particles or other fire extinguishing uid.

Among the princi-'palE objects' of'A the invention are to provide-:f

(c) A nozzle that is simple, efficient. andl relativelyr inexpensive.

(lo) A nozzle sol constructed that workmanship of a highdegree enters into its manufacture without making its cost excessive.

A nozzle that is durable, that does not easily get out of order, and that is especially guarded against the entrance of grit or other objectionable substances;

Other important objects willbecome apparent during the progressl of' the following description.

In general, re nozzles with protective spray features are-known, but do not possess the unique features which are outstanding in the device of the invention'.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1- represents a longitudinal centerY section taken on the linev l--lV in Fig'. 2;

Fig; 2^, a rear elevation;`

Fig. 3, a transverse section taken on the line 3*--3'y in Fig. l;

Fig. 4, a fragmentaryV portion of Fig. l enclosed by the broken loop at 4 inv Fig. 1., but showing a detail of somewhat different construction, drawn toan enlarged scale;

Fig. 5, an enlargement of substantially the portion enclosed by the broken line 5 in Fig. l; and,

Fig. 6, a front elevation indicating the nozzle in actual operation, thisfigure being drawn to a reduced scale.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l0 denotes the nozzle in general, and comprises a main body portion form-ing a barrelI Il to which is attached a front or tip portion l2. The barrel I'l has a taper bore l?)A within which is concent-rioally fixed a sleeve llt, the wall of` which is preferably of uniform thickness and' follows in general the taper of the body H. Advantageously the sleeve i4 is removable from the barrel Il, but normally is held in the fixed position therein by means of exterior ribs l5 that merge into a `reinforcing end collar Hi, both the ribs and the collar being preferably integral with the sleeve M. The entire sleeve structure may be fastened in the barrel by any suitable means,

forf example, screws: Irl', that in the present; instance serve an additional purpose. presently; to be described. The advantage of making; the sleeve hl: removable from the barrel includes thefactthatthebarrel canbe bored out smoothly and the exterior surfaces of the sleeve. be smoothed oir. perfectly, so that there is no roughness to be encountered:y by the flowing water that runs inthe directionv of' the arrows in Eig. 1 through. longitudinal passagesv |81 The tapering bore I9.. of. the nozzle extends through its. sleeve i4 at substantially a uniform taper from` the back of the nozzle to the front of ther tip t2, thereby offering a minimum obstruction or retardation to the passage ofthe main stream of the water that is -directed into the fire. The passages |15v are atleast partially defined bythe successive ribs l5 and constitute auxiliary conduits to conduct water. streams to the fog.- curtain, spray forming apertures at 2Q, 2li and 22, Figs. l and 5.

The conduits. I8; at theirv discharge terminals direct` the auxiliary water streams along streamlined surfaces 232 into. an annularv passage 2.4 formed largely in a ring-.like tting 25. that is held in place bythe screws Il. hereinbefore mentionedf. From. the annular passage 24 thewater is forced through the apertures 2B., 2li and 22 to form theV aforesaid fog curtain, the said apertures 2i]` to. 22 being spaced radially around the ring iii/ting 2:5.

It is desirable. that reliefY holes 26 beprovided to establish communication betweenrthe auxiliary conduits I8 and the main stream ofwater now-ing through the` tapered bore. i9. In orderto assure a watertight joint between the ring f1t- Vting 25 andthe outside ofthe barrel Il, circumferential gaskets 2l may be provided.

Mounted on the outside of the` barrel ll, contiguous to the fitting 25', is a retractible sleeve 28 that serves as a closure or valve for controlling the action of the fog'spray. This sleeve has two principal positions, one, the rearmost, shown in Fig. l, in full lines, where the spray apertures 2i), 2i and 22 are wholly uncovered, and another position, the foremost, indicated by the dotted lines 29, where the spray apertures are entirely closed. The back and forth movement of the sleeve valve 28 in this instance is effected by -means of the threaded portion 3i) that engages 3 tively tapered portion 33. The outside surface 34 of the sleeve valve is either knurled (not shown) or is provided with other well known means (not shown) to prevent slipping in the hands of a person operating the nozzle.

The unique construction of the nozzle as hereinbefore described makes it possible to provide means for preventing any clogging of the spray apertures 20, 2l and 22 because of foreign particles that are likely to accompany a stream of water. Such clog-preventing means in the present showing comprise metal wire screens placed at the stream entrance of the nozzle barrel. Ex-

amples of screens are shown at 35 in Figs. 1 and 2, and at 36 in Fig. 4. In Figs. 1 and 2 the screens are shown as lying approximately in the plane 31 of the stream entrance, while in Fig. 4, the screens are inclined with respect to the plane 31.

In either case the effect of the incoming streamV of water is to wash the surface of the screens clear of any foreign particles that may momentarily lodge thereon. However, in the case of the inclined screen surfaces, this clearing tendency of the stream is considerably increased. The screens 35 and 3B are held in place by any suitable means, for illustration, soldering or brazing the edges thereof to the contacting portions of the barrel and its tapered sleeve I4.

At 38 is shown a gasket that makes a watertight joint against the usual outlet fitting (not shown) of a re hose.

In Figs. 1 and 5 the sprays al emerging from the apertures 2l, are directed slightly outwardly with reference to a plane passing through these apertures at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. At the same time the sprays lil and 42 coming through the respective apertures 20 and 22 are directed so as to intersect each other as well as to intersect the sprays 4|, the points of intersection being determined by the particular angularity of the respective apertures. An example of the intersecting points is indicated at 43. The purpose of causing the respective sprays to intersect one another is to thoroughly atomize the jets of water in transit and thereby greatly enhance their effectiveness.

It is to be observed in Fig. 1, the inside of the muzzle of retractible sleeve 28 is tapered, as indicated, for illustration, at 39. 'Ihe effect of this tapered surface 39 is to deect forwardly, successively, all three sprays 40, 4I and c2, away from a person holding the nozzle, when the sleeve 28 moved forwardly. The forward travel of the sleeve gradually consolidates the plurality of sprays and brings about a still different spraying result from point to point until the final closing olf of all the sprays. Rearward travel reverses the action.

Any nozzle is subject to the cutting action of water under pressure passing through its bore, the ensuing wear being a factor that shortens considerably the useful life of the entire usual nozzle structure.

It is to be observed that the tapered sleeve i4 forms a renewable lining for the nozzle shell of the invention, whereby a perfectly new nozzle is obtainable at a fraction of the first cost of the entire nozzle. 1

By means of the invention a stock of the interchangeably renewable linings can be kept on hand, and a virtually new nozzle be quickly made up, by unsoldering the screens 35 or 36, and resoldering them in place. Obviously, the inven- .tion is not necessarily restricted to re nozzles.

While a specific Vembodiment of the invention 4 is herein shown and described, the scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle comprising a barrel having a tapered bore; a lining having a plurality of radially spaced and longitudinally extending ribs conforming to said tapered bore and defining auxiliary conduits terminating in exit openings through and arranged circumferentially of said barrel; a spray ring encircling said exit openings of said barrel; and fastening means extending through said spray ring, said barrel, and said lining, for holding spray ring, barrel, and lining fixed relatively one to another.

2. Anozzle according to claim 1, wherein is included a shut-off sleeve movably encircling said spray ring and adapted to be seated thereon.

3. A protective spray fire nozzle, comprising a shelllhaving a smooth bore axially therethrough; a separable sleeve lining dening a main conduit, said sleeve lining extending throughout the greater part of the length of said shell and having a plurality of substantially radial ribs spaced apart circumferentially and extending exteriorly thereof, the outer surfaces of said ribs conforming substantially to the bore of said shell so as to at least partially dei-lne auxiliary conduits having respective entrances arranged circumferentially about the entrance to said main conduit and respective exits directed laterally of said main conduit circumferentiallyoi and adjacent the exit of said main conduit; laterally directed orifices defined by said shell and arranged in registry with the respective exits of said auxiliary conduits; spray means disposed across said orices; and an annularcollar formed adjacent the exit end of said sleeve lining at the said exits of the auxiliary conduits, said annular collar having concavely curved transition surfaces registering with the respective exits of the auxiliary conduits and directed to streamline the passage of liquid through said shell orifices. v

4. A protective spray nozzle, comprising a shell structure having Y a smooth bore; a separable sleeve lining defining a main conduit, said sleeve lining extending throughout the greater part of the length of said shell structure and being equipped with integral, exterior ribs congurated to said bore in order that spaces between said ribs define, at least partially, auxiliary conduits Vleading to the front of said nozzle; side outlet spray means adjacent the front of said shell and -.in iiow communication with said auxiliary conduit whereby liquid flowing through said auxiliary c-onduits is formed into a protective spray curtain surrounding said nozzle; and relief passages providing communication between said main conduit and said auxiliary conduits.

5. A protective spray nozzle, comprising a shell having a smooth bore axially therethrough; a sep- .arable sleeve lining defining a main conduit, said sleeve lining extending throughout the greater part of the length of said shell and having a plurality of; substantially radial ribs spaced apart circumferentially and extending exteriorly thereof, the outer surfaces ofI said ribs conforming substantially to the bore of said shell so as to at least partially define auxiliary conduits having respective entrances arranged circumferentially about the entrance to Asaid main conduit and respective exits directed Ylaterally of said main conduit circumferentially of and adjacent the exit of said main conduit; laterally directed orices dened by said shell and arranged in registry with the respective exits of saidauxiliary conduits; and relief passages providing communication between said main conduit and said auxiliary conduits.

6. A protective spray nozzle, comprising a shell having a smooth bore axially therethrough; a separable sleeve lining defining a main conduit,- said sleeve lining extending throughout the greater part `of the length of said shell and having a plurality of substantially radial ribs spaced apart eircum-ferentially and extending exteriorly thereof, the outer surfaces of said ribs conforming substantially to the bore of said shell so as to at least partially define auxiliar;7 conduits having respective entrances arranged circumferentially about the entrance to said main conduit and respective exits directed laterally of said main conduit circumferentially of and adjacent the exit of said main conduit; laterally directed orifices defined by said shell and arranged in registry with the respective exits of said auxiliary conduits; an annular collar formed adjacent the exit end of said sleeve lining at the said exits of the auxiliary conduits, said annular collar having concavely curved transition surfaces registering with the respective exits of the auxiliary conduits and directed to streamline the passage of liquid through said shell orices; a spray ring encircling said shell at the location of said orifices, and having spray-forming apertures in registry with said orices; and screws threaded through said spray ring, said shell, and said annular collar, to hold said parts in rigidly assembled relationship, said screws having their heads exposed exteriorly of said spray ring for ease in disassembly.

7. A protective spray nozzle, comprising a shell having a smooth bore axially therethrough; a separable sleeve lining dening a main conduit, said sleeve lining extending throughout the conduits said shell having a discharge end portion of smaller bore than the bore of the remainder of the shell, thereby providing a shoulder internally of the shell and intermediate the length thereof, said sleeve lining iitting snugly within the larger bore portion of said shell with its discharge end seating against said shoulder, and the main conduit of said sleeve lining leading into the said smaller bore portion of the shell.

JOHN N. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,775 Cunningham Oct. 29, 1895 582,051 Fuerbringer May 4, 1897 642,833 Aungst Feb. 6, 1900 1,116,094 McVoy Nov. 3 1914 2,176,699 Anderson Oct. 17, 1939 2,331,741 Smith Oct. 12, 1943 2,389,642 Schellin et al Nov. 27, 1945 

